Rome for Always (The BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES Collection) by Judy Angelo

said as he folded his arms
across his chest, “what are you up to? What are you doing with my son?”
    CHAPTER SEVEN
     
    “What’s Pa up to?” Rome made to get up but again his
mother put a hand on his shoulder.
    “Have another biscotti. You look so thin.”
    “Ma, stop clucking over me. I look fine and you know
it.” He glanced down the hallway. “They’ve been talking for over ten minutes.”
    “Which is such a short time for your father to get to
know your fiancée. I’m sure they have a lot to talk about. In fact,” she got up
and produced her handbag from God knew where, “let’s give them some space. Can
you run me out on the road for a little while? You and I have some catching up
to do, too.”
    “What? Now?" Rome had to fight to keep the
annoyance out of his voice. “Can’t we do that some other time?”
    “No, now Rome. Can’t you tear yourself away from your
fiancée for a little while? Not even to spend some time with your mother?” She
gave him a look filled with hurt but he could tell it was exaggerated. “Is this
how it’s going to be from now on?”
    Rome gave her a grimace but he got to his feet. “All
right, let’s go,” he said grudgingly. “But I don’t want to stay long. I don’t
want Pa grilling Arie too long. Fifteen minutes, that’s all I can give you.”
    But it turned out that Rome was gone a lot longer than
that. He’d thought his mother wanted to pick something up at a nearby store but
instead she directed him onto the autostrada, telling him there was a friend
she absolutely had to see today. It would be a quick visit, she promised. She
would just run in and run out but it was an old friend of the family who she
knew would love to see him.
    When Rome pulled up in front of the sprawling home he
turned off the engine, folded his arms across his chest and sat back in his
seat. Then he fixed his mother with a scowl that would leave her in no doubt
about how he felt about the trick she’d played on him.
    “Really, Ma?” he asked when she looked away, a sly smile
curling her lips. “You had to go there?”
    Lily Milano had the grace to look embarrassed. “I’m
sorry, Rome, but I knew you wouldn’t have come if I’d told you where I was
going.”
    “You’re right about that one,” he said. “So did you
really have something to do here or was that a trick, too?”
    “No, there’s something I have to pick up. Honestly.” She
pulled her purse onto her lap. “But you’ll need to come in, too. I told Daniela
you’d be dropping by.”
    “What the devil?” Rome could not believe his mother. “Why
would you do something like that?”
    “Please, Rome, let’s not fight over this. You’re already
here so you may as well come in with me.” She opened the door and, not waiting
for him to help, she got out and began to walk toward the house. “And please
don’t lag behind.”
    For several seconds Rome could only sit there, shaking
his head. That was his mother, an expert in getting what she wanted when she
wanted. She’d pulled such tricks on his father a couple of times. He just
hadn’t expected her to pull that sort of thing on him.
    Despite the fact that he’d flown his fiancée all the way
from the United States to meet his family his mother had gone and tricked him
into dropping by the house of his ex. Trust Lily Milano to pull a crazy stunt
like that. What did she think? That seeing Daniela would make him change his
mind?
    But, as she’d said, he was already here so there was
nothing to be done but go inside and act civil. He couldn’t very well sit there
like he was hiding out in the car.
    With a sigh of annoyance Rome got out of the car and
slammed the door shut then he followed his mother into the home of Daniela Scalise,
the woman he’d broken up with just over a year earlier.  Before he’d even rung
the bell the door opened and there, looking as stunningly beautiful as ever,
stood Daniela.
    “Rome. Long time no see. Come in.” Before he